Purse comprising a sorting member

ABSTRACT

A coin-sorting purse or moneybag comprising at least one dividing partition separating the purse interior into a plurality of compartments and having at least one opening for passing smaller coins originally placed in a first compartment to succeeding compartments, while retaining the larger coins in the first compartment. A plate of magnetic material supported by the dividing partition above the openings in a later compartment exerts its magnetic force substantially exclusively in that compartment.

United States Patent l i 1 1 1 1 i 1 lm entor Marinus Beerens Kloosterweg 38 Waalwijk, Netherlands Appl. No, 824,072 Filed May 13. 1969 Patented Sept. 7,1971 Priority May 15 1968, Nov. 29, 1968 Netherlands 6,806,829 and 6,817,084

PURSE COMPRISING A SORTING MEMBER 22 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

U.S. CL... 133/3 Int. Cl G07d 3/00 Field of Search .v 133/3; 150/37 [56] ReierencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1.379.817 5/1921 Hcgwer 150/37 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,563 1913 Great Britain 133/3 Primary ExaminerSamuel F. Coleman Attorney-Owen, Wickersham & Erickson ABSTRACT: A coin-sorting purse or moneybag comprising at least one dividing partition separating the purse interior into a plurality of compartments and having at least oneopening for passing smaller coins originally placed in a first compartment to succeeding compartments, while retaining the larger coins in the first compartment. A plate of magnetic material supported by the dividing partition above the openings in a later compartment exerts its magnetic force substantially exclusive ly in that compartment.

PATENTEUSEP Han 3,503 325 sum 1 OF 2 INVENTOR MARINUS BEERENS 0 a/MM ATTORNEYS PURSE COMPRISING A SORTING MEMBER This invention relates to a self-sorting purse or moneybag.

A prior art purse has employed a magnetic plate for sorting coins attracted by magnetic force (in general, nickel coins) from coins not attracted by magnetic force (silver, bronze, zinc, and aluminum coins, etc.), the sorting being accomplished by shaking the closed purse. Although such a purse has made possible the separation of two kinds of coins, it has had the disadvantage that it separated only two kinds of coins from each other and achieved no further segregation, so that in general the contents of the pufse still could not be easily supervised, for the different sizes of coins of each type were still mixed together.

One object of the present invention is to provide a purse that makes further separation, so that the contents of the purse can be better supervised and so that small coins can be easily taken out ofthe purse.

An additional object is to provide a cheaper construction where separation between only two kinds of coins is desired.

The invention provides at least one dividing partition having at least one opening to pass coins smaller than a given size to The purse shown in FIG. I has a sorting portion 1, divided into two compartments 2 and 3 by means of a dividing partition 5. This partition has openings 9', through which small coins 12 can pass, but large coins 11 cannot pass through. These openings 9 are not quite at the bottom of the sorting compartment 3, but are arranged slightly above the lower edge, so that they are separated by a strip 10 from the bottom of the compartment 3. However, the dividing partition 5 is fastened along the lower edge of the openings 9 (above the strip 10) to the wall of the sorting portion 1 on the side of the compartment 2 intended for insertion of the coins to be sorted out. The compartment 2 is therefore less deep than the compartment 3. Thus, when coins I1 and 12 are placed in the an adjacent compartment. By combining a single dividing partition with a single magnetic plate, separation into three types of coins becomes possible, and with additional dividing parti tions further segregation is possible. As a result, supervision is considerably improved, and defined kinds of coins are made readily accessible. At the same time the structure is less expensive than magnetic devices, if only two kinds of coins are to be segregated.

A single dividing partition preferably divides the sorting portion into two compartments: one, for collecting the coins to be sorted out, extends only as far as the lower edges of the openings through the partition; whereas, the adjacent compartment extends well below the openings, so that all coins that can pass through the openings are readily passed through. By shaking the purse a few times two different sizes of coins can thus be readily separated. Then, preferably, a plate of magnetic material is incorporated in the dividing partition above the openings, so that magnetic coins are made directly accessible when the purse is opened, whereas nonmagnetic coins lie down lower in that compartment.

The invention, when using a' magnetic plate disposes it so that the coins in the compartment intended for sorting are not attracted significantly. This prevents the magnetic coins from being attracted by the magnetic plate before they have been sorted to size.

The sorting partition may be formed by a flap that is pivotally connected below with the inner side of the purse or moneybag, but which otherwise has free side and upper edges; preferably this partition is provided with resilient material. When the coins are irregularly disposed in the compartments, the flap can yield so that even in a compartment containing many coins a reasonable survey of the contents can be obtained.

, Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of an opened purse, embodying the principles of the invention; in this purse coins can be separated into three kinds.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective ofa modified purse embodying the principles of the invention and enabling a separation of coins into five kinds. One of the sidewalls of the sorting portion is indicated only by broken lines, for the sake ofclarity.

FIG. 3 is a similar view of a modified form of purse of the invention, having a sorting member which is loose on the side.

FIG. 4 shows another modified form of purse or moneybag of the invention, having three sorting members which are loose on the sides.

FIG. 5 shows a further modified form of purse having two sorting members loose on their sides with flexible cord attached to them.

compartment 2 and the purse is closed and shaken while upright, the smaller coins readily pass through the openings 9 into the compartment 3, while the large coins 11 are retained behind the openings 9 in the compartment 2.

The structure so far described is advantageous and is less expensive than a purse relying on a magnetic plate for sorting. However, the partition 5 may furthermore be provided with a magnetic plate 22, preferably sewn inside a lining of the partition 5. An appropriate material is ferroxdur," which is permanently magnetic and can be made in the form of thin plates. This material also has the advantage that it can be made in a form in which only one side is magnetized. It is preferred to arrange a plate 22 of this last-mentioned kind in the dividing partition 5, with the magnetic side facing the compartment 3 and remote from the compartment 2. As an alternative, a plate 22 may be used which has the same magnetic force on either side, but in this case the side facing the compartment 2 is preferably then screened by a layer of nonmagnetic material, for example thick, textile material. As stated above, it is advantageous for the side of the dividing partition 5' facing the compartment 2 to exert substantially no magnetic force, so that in the compartment 2 no coins are attracted by the magnetic plate before they have been sorted to size by the openings 9.

The purse shown in FIG. 1 thus enables the sorting of coins into three kinds, i.e., coins Ill too large to pass through the openings 9, coins l2 capable of passing through the openings 9 but not being magnetically attracted by the plate 6, and coins I3 capable of passing through the openings 9 and being attracted by the magnetic plate 22.

In order to provide sufficient space, it is advantageous for the compartment 3 to have several folds on each side, for ex ample, four folds 25, 26, 27, and 28, in contrast to conventional purses, which usually have only one fold on the side of each compartment. This preferred structure ensures that, during sorting, the coins are not hindered by inwardly projecting parts of the folds and prevented from readily reaching the part of the partition 5 provided with the magnetic plate 22.

The purse shown in FIG. I is furthermore provided with a conventional snap lock 23, 24, but as a matter of course any desired other lock may be used, for example, a sliding clasp fastener. It is furthermore advantageous to provide the purse with a compartment for banknotes, postage stamps and the like. There may even be provided a key compartment.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 coins can be segregated into five kinds. The sorting portion 111 has four compartments 12, l3, l4, and 15. The partitions are formed by walls l6, l7. and 18. The lower edges of each of the partitions are fixed invariably to the same wall 29, but at different heights. The partition I6 is at the highest level and forms with the sidewall the compartment 12 intended for receiving the coins and for retaining the largest coins. The partitions l6, l7, and 18 have holes I9, 20, 2I, respectively, of gradually smaller size in that order. It is thus ensured that in sorting, each further compartment 13, I4, and I5 receives coins of decreasing diameters. Thus, the compartment 12 retains the largest coins. whereas the compartment I5 collects the smalilest coins. and the compartments l3 and I4 collect two intermediate sizes.

In this embodiment it is advantageous not to arrange the compartments in'transverse direction as in the conventional purses or moneybags, but they are arranged in the direction of length of the purse or moneybag. Therefore, the partitions can be spaced apart by a greater distance.

In the compartment 15 for the smallest coins a separation between magnetic and nonmagnetic coins can be achieved by providing a magnetic plate 22 in the partition 18, similar to the magnetic plate in the partition of FIG. I. The smallest coins received in the compartment can thus be divided into magnetic coins and nonmagnetic coins. The purse or moneybag shown in FIG. 2 thus sorts coins into five different kinds. Obviously, the number of sorting possibilities may thus be extended further.

The purse shown in FIG. 2 is also provided with a snap lock, but obviously any other appropriate lock may be used. A compartment for banknotes and a compartment for stamps, keys, and the like, may also be provided in this embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment similar to that of FIG. 1. The partition 5 is, however, not fastened at the edges to the foldable sidewalls of the compartment, but it is provided with loose sides 4 and 6 and a top edge 7. The partition 5, which is preferably made of resilient material, is capable of yielding to the quantity of coins contained therein, both prior to and after sorting.

The purse shown in FIG. 3 is employed as follows: the money to be sorted is inserted into the compartment 2, after which the purse is closed and shaken. After shaking, the coins are sorted to size and to magnetic attractability of the coins as is shown schematically in FIG. 3. It is then advantageous for the flap 5 to be loose on the sides so that it can yield during the sorting operation. Prior to sorting more coins are located in the compartment 2 than after sorting, so that prior to sorting more space may be needed on that side of the partition 5, so that the flap 5 will yield more to the left than after sorting. During sorting, the flap 5 can therefore move to the right to match the required space. The loose flap 5 is advantageously provided with a plate of flexible material, which retains its initial form, for example a plate of mica or a comparatively rigid synthetic resin. The flapis thus readily adaptable. The magnetic plate 22 may be quite thin and able to flex.

As is shown in FIG. 4 several flaps l6, l7, and 18 may be provided, which are fastened at different heights to one end wall of the purse,'as in FIG. 2. The upper flap 16 again has the largest openings 19 for retaining the largest coins, the next flap 17 has smaller openings 20 for retaining smaller coins, whereas the flap 18 has still smaller openings 21 for retaining still smaller coins. Moreover, the remaining smallest coins can be sorted in accordance with their magnetic properties by providing a magnetic plate 22 in the last flap 18. It will be obvious that this system is particularly advantageous in moneybags, in which a satisfactory survey of the contents is desirable.

A further embodiment is shown in FIG. 5, which comprises two sorting flaps 31 and 32, which are loose at the sides, like the preceding flaps. The flap 32 is pivoted herein to the flap 31 at a given distance above the pivotal line of the latter. In this case, the compartment 36 between the sorting flaps 31 and 32 serves as the initial sorting compartment, where the flap 32 can retain the largest coins, and having the larger openings 33 on its lower edge, whereas the other flap 31 has smaller openings 34 for retaining medium sized coins in the compartment 37, whereas the smallest coins are passed through the openings 34 into the compartment 38 for the smallest coins. As in FIG. 4, a layer 22 of magnetic material may be provided in one (or in both) flaps for obtaining a subdivision into magnetically attractable or nonattractable coins. Also this system is particularly appropriate in moneybags for sorting larger quantities of coins.

In order to prevent the flap 31 or 32 from opening too widely, the sides thereof may be fastened as by means of a flexible cord 35, to one of the parts of the purse so that the flaps can attain only a defined extreme position.

It will be clear that the invention is not restricted to the above embodiments. Thus the flap may also be provided with openings of different sizes so that the money to be sorted can be directly guided to different compartments.

What is claimed is:

l. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag comprising at least one flat sheetlike dividing partition free from folds separating the purse interior into first and second compartments. at least one opening being made in said sheetlike dividing partition for passing smaller coins originally placed in the first said compartment to the second said compartment, while retaining the larger coins also placed in the first said compartment.

2. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag comprising at least one sheetlike dividing partition separating the purse interior into first and second compartments, at least one opening being made in said sheetlike dividing partition for passing smaller coins originally placed in the first said compartment to the second said compartment, while retaining the larger coins also placed in the first said compartment, wherein in the dividing partition each said opening lies along the lower edge of said partition and said lower edge is secured to the wall of the first compartment, which is intended to receive initially the coins to be sorted, and provides the lower edge of said first compartment, and wherein a strip extends below said openings in said second compartment, said strip having a width which is larger than the size of the coins which can pass through said opening.

3. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 2 wherein a plate of magnetic material is supported by the dividing partition above said openings in said second compartment.

4. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag comprising at least one dividing partition separating the purse interior into first and second compartments, said partition having at least one opening for passing smaller coins originally placed in the first said compartment to the second said compartment, while retaining the larger coins also placed in the first said compartment, each said opening lying along the lower edge of said partition, said lower edge being secured to the wall of the first compartment, which is intended to receive initially the coins to be sorted. and providing the lower edge of said first compartment, said partition having a strip below said openings in said second compartment, so that all coins small enough to pass through the openings can be readily passed out of said first compartment into said second compartment but are not readily returnable thereto from said second compartment, a plate of magnetic material supported by the dividing partition above said openings in said second compartment, and means for causing the plate of magnetic material to exert its magnetic force substantially exclusively in said second compartment, so that coins in the first compartment are not attracted thereto by any substantial force.

5. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 4 wherein the plate of magnetic material is magnetized on only the side facing the interior of said second compartment.

6. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 4 wherein the plate of magnetic material is shielded on the side facing said first compartment.

7. A purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 2 wherein the compartment extending beyond the openings is provided at the sides with folded sidewalls and has a plurality of folds in each of the sidewalls.

8. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 2 wherein there is a plurality of said dividing partitions having successively smaller openings, the said plurality being generally fanwise arranged and each of said plurality having its openings at the bottom of the compartment which precedes it provided with a strip having a width which is greater than the size of the coins which can pass through its openings in the next succeeding compartment.

9. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 8 wherein a plate of magnetic material is supported by the last said dividing partition above its openings in the last compartment.

10. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag comprising a plurality of dividing partitions separating the purse interior into first, and other compartments, each said partition having at least one opening for passing smaller coins originally placed in the first said compartment to the next said compartment, while retaining the larger coins also placed in the first said compart-- ment, each said opening lying along the lower edge of said partition, said dividing partitions having successively smaller openings, each shaped with the openings at the bottom of the compartment closet to said first compartment, said lower edge of a first compartment being secured to the wall of the first compartment, which is intended to receive initially the coins to be sorted, and providing the lower edge of said first compartment, a strip extending below said openings in said second and succeeding compartments, so that all coins small enough to pass through the openings can be readily passed out of said first compartment into said second compartment but are not readily returnable thereto from said second compartment, a plate of magnetic material supported by the last said dividing partition above its openings in the last compartment, and means for causing the plate of magnetic material to exert its magnetic force substantially solely in the last said compartment.

11. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim wherein the plate of magnetic material is magnetized on only the side facing the interior of said last compartment.

12. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 10 wherein the plate of magnetic material is screened on the side facing the other compartments.

13. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 8 wherein the compartments are provided at their sides with folded sidewalls, each having a plurality of folds.

14. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag comprising a plurality of dividing partitions separating the purse interior into first and second and succeeding compartments, said partitions having successively smaller openings for passing smaller coins originally placed in the first said compartment to the second said compartment, while retaining the larger coins also placed in the first said compartments, and for thereupon passing the smaller of said smaller coins on to a succeeding compartment, each said opening lying along the lower edge of its said partition, said lower edge of the first said partition being secured to the wall of the first compartment, which is intended to receive initially the coins to be sorted, and providing the lower edge of said first compartment, a strip extending below the openings of said first partition in said second compartment, a next strip extending below the openings of the second said partition in the succeeding compartment, and so on, so that all coins small enough to pass through the openings can be readily passed out of said firstlcompartment into said second compartment and so on but are not readily returnable thereto from said second compartment to said first compartment or from a succeeding compartment to a preceding one, each said dividing partition being formed by a flap pivotally fastened at its lower edge to the inner surface of said purse or moneybag and having free side and upper edges.

15. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 14 wherein the flap is made of resilient material.

16. A purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plate of magnetic material is supported by the dividing partition above said openings in said second compartment.

17. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag comprising at least one dividing partition separating the purse interior into first and second compartments, said partition having at least one opening for passing smaller coins originally placed in the first said compartment to the second said compartment, while retaining the larger coins also placed in the first said compartment, a plate of magnetic material supported by the dividing partition above said openings in said second compartment, and means for causing the plate of magnetic material to exert its magnetic force substantially solely in the second compartment.

18. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 17 wherein the plate of magnetic material is magnetized on only the side facing the interior of said second compartment.

19. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 17 wherein the plate of magnetic material is shielded on the side facing said first compartment.

20. A com-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second compartment is provided at its sides with folded sidewalls each having a plurality of folds.

21. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag comprising at least one dividing partition separating the purse interior into first and second compartments, said partition having at least one opening for passing smaller coins originally placed in the first said compartment to the second said compartment, while retaining the larger coins also placed in the first said compart' ment, the dividing partition being a flap pivotally fastened at its lower edge to the inner surface of said purse or moneybag and having free side and upper edges.

22. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 21 wherein the flap is made of resilient. material. 

1. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag comprising at least one flat sheetlike dividing partition free from folds separating the purse interior into first and second compartments, at least one opening being made in said sheetlike dividing partition for passing smaller coins originally placed in the first said compartment to the second said compartment, while retaining the larger coins also placed in the first said compartment.
 2. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag comprising at least one sheetlike dividing partition separating the purse interior into first and second compartments, at least one opening being made in said sheetlike dividing partition for passing smaller coins originally placed in the first said compartment to the second said compartment, while retaining the larger coins also placed in the first said compartment, wherein in the dividing partition each said opening lies along the lower edge of said partition and said lower edge is secured to the wall of the first compartment, which is intended to receive initially the coins to be sorted, and provides the lower edge of said first compartment, and wherein a strip extends below said openings in said second compartment, said strip having a width which is larger than the size of the coins which can pass through said opening.
 3. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 2 wherein a plate of magnetic material is supported by the dividing partition above said openings in said second compartment.
 4. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag comprising at least one dividing partition separating the purse interior into first and second compartments, said partition having at least one opening for passing smaller coins originally placed in the first said compartment to the second said compartment, while retaining the larger coins also placed in the first said compartment, each said opening lying along the lower edge of said partition, said lower edge being secured to the wall of the first compartment, which is intended to receive initially the coins to be sorted, and providing the lower edge of said first compartment, said partition having a strip below said openings in said second compartment, so that all coins small enough to pass through the openings can be readily passed out of said first coMpartment into said second compartment but are not readily returnable thereto from said second compartment, a plate of magnetic material supported by the dividing partition above said openings in said second compartment, and means for causing the plate of magnetic material to exert its magnetic force substantially exclusively in said second compartment, so that coins in the first compartment are not attracted thereto by any substantial force.
 5. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 4 wherein the plate of magnetic material is magnetized on only the side facing the interior of said second compartment.
 6. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 4 wherein the plate of magnetic material is shielded on the side facing said first compartment.
 7. A purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 2 wherein the compartment extending beyond the openings is provided at the sides with folded sidewalls and has a plurality of folds in each of the sidewalls.
 8. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 2 wherein there is a plurality of said dividing partitions having successively smaller openings, the said plurality being generally fanwise arranged and each of said plurality having its openings at the bottom of the compartment which precedes it provided with a strip having a width which is greater than the size of the coins which can pass through its openings in the next succeeding compartment.
 9. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 8 wherein a plate of magnetic material is supported by the last said dividing partition above its openings in the last compartment.
 10. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag comprising a plurality of dividing partitions separating the purse interior into first, and other compartments, each said partition having at least one opening for passing smaller coins originally placed in the first said compartment to the next said compartment, while retaining the larger coins also placed in the first said compartment, each said opening lying along the lower edge of said partition, said dividing partitions having successively smaller openings, each shaped with the openings at the bottom of the compartment closet to said first compartment, said lower edge of a first compartment being secured to the wall of the first compartment, which is intended to receive initially the coins to be sorted, and providing the lower edge of said first compartment, a strip extending below said openings in said second and succeeding compartments, so that all coins small enough to pass through the openings can be readily passed out of said first compartment into said second compartment but are not readily returnable thereto from said second compartment, a plate of magnetic material supported by the last said dividing partition above its openings in the last compartment, and means for causing the plate of magnetic material to exert its magnetic force substantially solely in the last said compartment.
 11. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 10 wherein the plate of magnetic material is magnetized on only the side facing the interior of said last compartment.
 12. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 10 wherein the plate of magnetic material is screened on the side facing the other compartments.
 13. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 8 wherein the compartments are provided at their sides with folded sidewalls, each having a plurality of folds.
 14. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag comprising a plurality of dividing partitions separating the purse interior into first and second and succeeding compartments, said partitions having successively smaller openings for passing smaller coins originally placed in the first said compartment to the second said compartment, while retaining the larger coins also placed in the first said compartments, and for thereupon passing the smaller of said smaller coins on to a succeeding compartment, each said opening lying along the lower edge of its saId partition, said lower edge of the first said partition being secured to the wall of the first compartment, which is intended to receive initially the coins to be sorted, and providing the lower edge of said first compartment, a strip extending below the openings of said first partition in said second compartment, a next strip extending below the openings of the second said partition in the succeeding compartment, and so on, so that all coins small enough to pass through the openings can be readily passed out of said first compartment into said second compartment and so on but are not readily returnable thereto from said second compartment to said first compartment or from a succeeding compartment to a preceding one, each said dividing partition being formed by a flap pivotally fastened at its lower edge to the inner surface of said purse or moneybag and having free side and upper edges.
 15. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 14 wherein the flap is made of resilient material.
 16. A purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plate of magnetic material is supported by the dividing partition above said openings in said second compartment.
 17. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag comprising at least one dividing partition separating the purse interior into first and second compartments, said partition having at least one opening for passing smaller coins originally placed in the first said compartment to the second said compartment, while retaining the larger coins also placed in the first said compartment, a plate of magnetic material supported by the dividing partition above said openings in said second compartment, and means for causing the plate of magnetic material to exert its magnetic force substantially solely in the second compartment.
 18. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 17 wherein the plate of magnetic material is magnetized on only the side facing the interior of said second compartment.
 19. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 17 wherein the plate of magnetic material is shielded on the side facing said first compartment.
 20. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second compartment is provided at its sides with folded sidewalls each having a plurality of folds.
 21. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag comprising at least one dividing partition separating the purse interior into first and second compartments, said partition having at least one opening for passing smaller coins originally placed in the first said compartment to the second said compartment, while retaining the larger coins also placed in the first said compartment, the dividing partition being a flap pivotally fastened at its lower edge to the inner surface of said purse or moneybag and having free side and upper edges.
 22. A coin-sorting purse or moneybag as claimed in claim 21 wherein the flap is made of resilient material. 